A proposed federal laboratory to be located on UW-Madison’s Kegonsa Research Campus in the Town of Dunn is facing fire from the town’s residents, who are concerned about the lab’s possible negative environmental ramifications.

Town of Dunn Board Chair Ed Minihan said Sunday the sheer size of the facility would “fly in the face” of the town’s extensive farmland preservation efforts, for which it has been nationally recognized.

The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a joint operation facilitated through the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Homeland Security, would focus on identifying and analyzing animal diseases and bioterrorist threats.

Some other citizens said at a town meeting Thursday that a major concern is that potentially dangerous bio-safety research would be done in close proximity to homes.

UW-Madison officials maintained Thursday that the facility would be highly secure as part of the Department of Homeland Security and would not threaten residents’ safety. The facility would also create approximately 400 job opportunities for scientists, according to university administrators.

Minihan also cited run-off and chemical exposure as additional environmental concerns, particularly because run-off into Lake Kegonsa could eventually end up flowing into the Great Lakes.

UW-Madison is one of 14 locations throughout the country vying for the laboratory.

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